A federal scheme that offers to wipe or reduce university debt for nurse practitioners working in country areas should be extended to registered nurses, a review has heard.
Under the program, introduced in 2022, the Federal Government agrees to cut the university debt of doctors and nurse practitioners (NPs) who choose to work in rural or remote regions, with a few caveats.
Those working at least 24 hours a week in a Modified Monash (MM) 3-5 area will have their debt cleared if they stay in the area for the equivalent period of their degree.
For doctors and NPs living and practising in more remote MM6-7 areas, the time they need to spend in the location is half the time of their course for their debt to be wiped.